Аннотация: Alexander Glushko and Pyotr Tolstoy. On the Prospects of the Descendants of Great People in a Modern Russia. A culturological essay.
Alexander Glushko and Pyotr Tolstoy. On the Prospects of the Descendants of Great People in a Modern Russia. A culturological essay.
The book by Alexander Glushko about the Georgy Langemak, one of creators of "Katyusha" (multiple rocket launcher), gives a huge amount of information about the author of book - the son of the great designer Valentin Glushko. (Alexander Glushko 'The Unknown Langemak. Constructor "Katyusha" (multiple rocket launcher)" (2012) ['Неизвестный Лангемак. Конструктор 'катюш''])
It's possible to consider a detailed biography of Alexander Glushko, posted on one of the sites, too.
The book, the biography on the website and some other materials provoked us to think not only about the great legendary designer Valentin Glushko, but also about his son - Alexander Glushko.
In this essay, we seek to determine the prospects of Alexander Glushko's efforts. At the same time, we are based on - perhaps - fragmentary and incomplete information. If there are any inaccuracies, we apologize.
In addition, we intend to raise a broader question - about the prospects in modern Russia of the descendants of outstanding people.
Prospects of Alexander Glushko (according to our subjective point of view).
We attribute the positive potential of Alexander Glushko to his goals - a wide archival search for information about the designers of the legendary Katyusha. "Katyusha" is a part of national pride. Only alone this theme (even without the others) provides Alexander Glushko's creative line with minimal buoyancy. The themes of the 37th year and of "justice" are added to the"katyusha".
These goals (archival biographical searches) correspond to the high level of qualification of Alexander Glushko - his ability to work in archives, to write books, to create plans and reports (on results), to conduct business correspondence, to act as an expert on biographical and historical issues.
Describing the potential of Alexander Glushko, we should note his (author's) style - a very uncompromising desire for the truth, for defending the "right things" - as Alexander Glushko understands the "right things".
Gradually, Alexander Glushko found the position of a descendant of a great man. It seems to us that at some point he found the strength to move from the position of the applicant, the nominee and the candidate to the position of the descendant.
He is a specialist in an archive activity, researcher, writer, journalist, public figure. But it is becoming increasingly obvious that he acts from the position of a descendant of a great man - that is, the bearer of a certain cultural and historical position, tradition. Alexander Glushko gives the impression of a person with an individual conscience.
Prospects for the descendants of outstanding people in a modern Russia.
What are the prospects in a modern Russia for the descendants of great people in general, and for Alexander Glushko in particular?
Descendants, as such, are alien to modern Russia. Their alienness is determined by their relative independence. No one has appointed them and no one can dismiss them. Because of this, they are potentially dangerous for influential people. (The layer of descendants includes relatives in general - for example, the wives of deceased great people).
At the same time, modern managers are trying to use descendants. If the name (surname) is a carrier of a sufficiently large historical and cultural potential, if the descendant understands the rules of the game, then influential people do not skimp.
The descendant receives the highest possible position in the state structure, and an almost uncontrolled and limitless financial flow, and a kind of cultural estate (manor) and many other benefits.
Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1883 - 1945) can serve as a prototype of a modern descendant - he is a writer, he is a public figure, he is a member of the Academy of Sciences... He was one of the most (financially) prosperous people of the Soviet Russia.
Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy had the title of count and a great surname and was a planet of the first magnitude. The descendants of people of moderate fame and of a less significance should strive to get into the list of keepers of a personal museums-apartments, after which they should behave as inconspicuously as possible.
As for Alexander Glushko, his style - independence, integrity, upholding the truth - causes, according to my personal assumption, the colossal irritation among certain people.
To this irritation are added negative emotions caused by the critical remarks of Alexander Glushko to the figures of the middle and small level.
Alexander Glushko demonstrates no danger to the modern political process. His goals - biographical archival research (designers of "Katyusha", 37th year) - are on the relative periphery of the cultural process. His activity is of a generally positive, socially useful character.
Somewhere in the air there is an idea of a personal museum of Valentin Glushko... But with the lively and energetic and independent Alexander Glushko - to whom a museum should be entrusted to?
The general style of Alexander Glushko's behavior - independence, uncompromising, having his own opinion, the ability to put himself in the position of a critic in relation to figures of medium and small level - all this makes him an undesirable figure, a kind of outsider.
Of course, he is not a Paraiyar (in the Indian sense). That is, he is not a member of the untouchable caste.
But, judging by the information that can be found on the Internet, he does not feel any special benevolence from official structures.
Attempts to obtain sustainable funding from state structures, from organizations close to the state, or from the state itself seem to end in failure. (Maybe he still obtained something significant? And we didn't find out about it?).
While there were relatively independent people in Russia - such as Artyom Borovik - Alexander Glushko had a chance to receive the award (premium, literary prize).
One of the heads of the state corporation financed out of his own pocket the installation of a memorial plaque. (One of the initiators of the event is Alexander Glushko). Soon after, this manager was removed from his post.
Nobody prevent to Alexander Glushko in his archival searches about the creators of "katyusha". It would be better if he was writing a positive materials about Langemak, Kleymyonov and others, but did not touch Kostikov.
But even if he is touching Kostikov, then this can be tolerated.
But, perhaps, a criticism in relation to the figures of the middle and small level causes great irritation. For such criticism, according to the unspoken rules, you must first obtain some form of prior consent.
If Alexander Glushko will find himself in a difficult situation, then this criticism will return to him.
In the meantime, he can engage in archival searches and historical research. Despite the irritation that he causes.
If he is engaged in his extensive activities in modern Russia (and abroad) without attracting state resources, then it is even interesting to look at him.
He will not be succeeded to earn a lot of money on his books (publications). Without special approval, the state and organizations associated with the state will not give him money and status. Individuals, as a rule, have limited financial opportunities - and those who have a significant resources - they are under control. However, the control is becoming wider and wider.
From what we found in the book by Alexander Glushko and in the materials about him (posted on the Internet), we can make an assumption that neither from the state nor from organizations associated with the state, Alexander Glushko received neither a significant status (positions, awards), nor a significant money.
The status of a descendant is not very interesting for influential people of modern Russia - at least because of the relative independence of this status. If the descendant does not want to be a person of a free profession, an independent businessman, a cultural figure, but wants to sell or lease his name (surname), then he needs to properly pack and sell his product, carefully observing the established and accepted rules.
It is also interesting that despite the authorship in relation to at least two books officially published - and in fact there are more books - Alexander Glushko does not have a biographical article on Wikipedia.
Our general view of the situation: Alexander Glushko can continue his archival and biographical searches, causing irritation and suspicious views. He does not pose a special (no) danger to anyone. But the style of his behavior, his moderate independence are completely alien to the traditions of modern Russia. Because of this, until he will understand and will start to comply the "rules of the game", until a special permission (order) will be issued, his archival searches will be carried out without receiving a significant money and a significant status from the modern state.
Alexander Glushko seemed to us a significant and useful cultural figure, which was took into account in the title of this essay. Naturally, we do not compare him with some trembling bloggers and do not put him on a similar zero (low) level.
In general, like the any conscientious, honest, independent person, Alexander Glushko arouses respect and interest. His prospects in modern Russia are very uncertain...
For a powerful "space" career, Alexander Glushko (a member of a high body, chairman of the space committee, representative of Russia in international space organizations) may not have enough understanding of the "rules of the game". If he will calm down in time, if he will become an inconspicuous caretaker of the personal museum-apartment of Valentin Glushko (funded from the budget of Moscow or of Russian Federation), then in this case he will lie on the beaches of Egypt or Turkey for three weeks every summer of every year...
June 29, 2021 03: 42
Translation from Russian into English: June 29, 2021 09:54.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Александр Глушко и Пётр Толстой. К вопросу о перспективах потомков великих людей в современной России. Культурологический очерк'.